The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-10-08
of triumph.

sickly novels.'
"Why, 1 am utterly astonished at
you, Uncle! l thought surely you
would approve my con,iuct, and give
the valuable advice" said Belle hall
crying.
81 don't know how to advise you on
such a subject. 1 have no experience
in that so,t OF business"
elf l only i,ad tue money to bring
ont my book said Bell. with n per-
suasive look, "I am confident l shall
never trouble you again."
"And now much money will il take?
Do you know"
'.I've written TO several publishing
houses, and the cheapest offers TO print
one thousand copies is seven hundred
and fifty dollars. I can sell the book
at ono dollar and half, aud thus
double tho money. After l make my
literary debut l think l can easily sell
the copywright of my books at a hand
some price aS fast as l can produce
thcm.' ..
"Pooh ~ sneered the old man con.
tenptuously, 81 have no confidence in
the project. But l know how it will
be. III don't let you have the money
you'Il call me mean and stingy and
regard mo as tho cause of all subse
quent misfortunes. SO, you shall have
the money, though you might as wctl
throw it in the street."
"Oh, Uncle!" said Belle, in a sub
llicd tone, elf you cannot checrfully
lend me the money do not want it,.
l propose to refund every cent?
"Weii, never mind, them" said Un-
Gle Joe more kindly. "TO teach you
business habits, L will lend you seven
hundred and fifty dollars. Write Il
note, please, and name the time when
you will take it up" .... ..
Belle accordingly sat down at the
desk and with the help of her uncle
wrote Il note and signed it. And now,
having tho cash to pay, she had no
difficulty in bringing out her novel.
We can find no language which would
! adequately describe her emotions ;,s
she eagerly watched the evolution of
this first offspring of her bra in into that
beautiful symbol Of modern civiiiz,>
iion, book. The soiled proof sheets,
tceming with the glowing inspirations
OF her genius, were like "angcls' vis-
its'' in some respects, and She would
send hurriediy to the postottico to get
the precious sheets the moment they
could be delivered. They were only
long, coarse strips Of dingy paper, but
they appeared sacred in her eyes. AT
night she sometimes dreamed that an
angel handed her the first Volume. In
short, she could think of nothing but
the ''Sau Lovers of Mol,ndale," the
titic of the production which, in her
dreams, would elcctrify the literary
world. She went so far as to write to
the professor OF modern languages in
- college to induce him to trans
late the "Sad Lovers' into French and
German and other foreign tongues.
At last Belle received tho first copy
by mail. With trembling hands and
wildly beating heart she tore off the
wrapper. How her eyes sparklcd as
they fell upon tho blue cover gIittering
with gilt! How beautiful the print
arpearcu! Sho had read the proofs n
dozen times at least, but she must now
read tho book regularly through. Ac-
cordingIy she FASTENED to her room,
locked the door, and looked at her
watch TO ascertain in what length of
time the IcnOUen1Clh of "Sad Lovers
could be reached. Shc did not arrive
at '!Gnis" until eleven O'Clock =. m.
That night as Belle slept she dreamed
bat she saw crowds of people reading
books with the most intense interest.
She silently glidcd up in the rear of
some OF them, peeppu over their shOul-
ierS, and discovered "Sud Lovera'' in
every case. The next morning Belle
FASTENED to her uncle'S with the book
in her hands.
"Oh, Unrlr," sine cried, ssisu't it
bcauiy:'
"W hat is it, chiid"' he asked.
"lt is my book. | have brought ii
for you to read. It's love story, I'M
Clr," said Belle with gIistoning eyes.
"Pshaw! DO you suppose l could
enjoy such Il thing
"Why not, Uncle: II is so sad. l
just know you would like it. 1t will
Bring tears To your eyes"
"Thcn l shall not read it, you may
be sure. The rheumatism brings tears
enough TO my eyes"
Belle went home, having a poor
opinion of her uncle's literary tastes.
She was deeply chagrincd. In due
time she received several boxes Of uSad
Lovers" and sent Il number of copies
To the press, and waited impatientIy
for criticisms. In a few days she be.
gan to receive marked copies of news
papers. How her cheeks burned with
Indignation and shame, as she read
the ill-natured observations oi the ed
iturs. One expressed his astonishment
I f-. =